Alleged drunken driver led authorities in chase spanning two counties

The 46-year-old man arrested after a high-speed chase Wednesday night that spanned two counties is scheduled to appear in West Covina Superior Court today, police said.

David Hagins of Glendora led police on a pursuit that started around 6 p.m. in Azusa and ended in Redlands about an hour later without any injuries, authorities said.

Hagins fled when San Dimas police attempted to stop his SUV for a minor traffic violation, Lt. Andy Berg said.

"Hagins refused to take a Breathalyzer and urine tests that would determine his blood-alcohol level," Berg said. "He was zig-zagging on and off of the 10 Freeway with much of the chase on city streets from Ontario into the San Bernardino and Loma Linda areas, where he returned to the eastbound 10 Freeway."

"That's where the patrol officers hang back and let the air support division follow the driver that's attempting to flee from us," Berg added. "It's a safe way of continuing a pursuit without endangering drivers and pedestrians."

Hagins re-entered the freeway around Tippecanoe Avenue in Loma Linda, where San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies engaged in the pursuit.

Sheriff's deputies followed Hagins on the eastbound 10 Freeway, where he pulled to the side of the road just east of the Tennessee Street off-ramp.

"He ran out of gas," Berg said. "San Bernardino County deputies made a felony stop and took Hagins into custody."

Berg said the vehicle hadn't been searched yet.

"It was locked up and secured in order to get traffic back to normal," Berg added. "It's on its way back to our facility in order for investigators to process it."

CHP officials said they cleared the scene as quickly as possible so traffic could resume as normal.